Weight of Water

[Nyboy]

Before I put in the under ground sprinklers around house, I did that to back part of garden. Problem with this is orchard is across a 17 foot wide stream.

 

[Smart Red]

Since your trees are relatively young (and small) you could use a root waterer instead of covering the whole orchard with 1 inch of water. That's how I managed to water my trees their first year or two.

You could also fill the drums from the creek, let the muck settle out of the water and then use the pump to move the water.

 

[Smart Red]

Before I put in the under ground sprinklers around house, I did that to back part of garden. Problem with this is orchard is across a 17 foot wide stream.

Okay, new information. Could you have a "pond" off-set from the stream to catch some of the water, goto my prior suggestion . . . let the water settle out and pump. Realize that the 'pond' will need to have the sludge cleaned out occasionally, but you'll get your water where it is needed. I still recommend use of a root feeder/waterer or those big water bags that wrap around the trunk for drip irrigation.

 

[catjac1975]

I need to figure out a way to water orchard. I tried a gas pump from the stream, but to much muck kept clogging pump. This time of year stream a thick sludge . I just put up one rain barrel off greenhouse, but don't think it will be enough. My only other choice is hauling water from house. I have 55 gallon barrels wondering how heavy they will be ( have to cross my homemade bridge). I know water can be very heavy.

I don't know how far the house is but the light weight x hose pros are worth the investment. You just have to put them AWAT AFTER USE OR THEY WILL NOT LAST TOO LONG./ Not mad hit wrong key.

 

[journey11]

Is this just to establish new trees? You could do the 5-gal. bucket with the pin-hole in the bottom.

 

[seedcorn]

If you have a 17' stream and 55 gallon barrels and gas powered pump. You have all you need. Dig a large enough hole to fit the 55 gallon barrel in, then pump away.keep the intake about 1' off of bottom.

Drill intake holes on the downstream side of barrel so it can refill while the sludge is taken downstream.

 

[Nyboy]

The problem with waterbags and 5 gallon buckets is they have to be filled. The water is not 17 wide, that is the measurement from one bank to other bank. When I built the bridge I layed across 2 20 foot 4 by 4s for base.

 

[seedcorn]

If it is 3' wide, that works. Did it deep enough to place barrel in there, let it fill up.

 

[Nyboy]

This time of year shallow , early spring deep enough

 

[seedcorn]

If it is 3" deep, it will work. Just have to dig deep hole for barrel to sit in.